Parts Cooler

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are provided for integrated curing and cooling of golf ball cores. A plate die is used to separate hot golf ball cores from a post-mold matrix. The hot golf ball cores are held in an insulated unit to maintain the elevated temperature of the golf ball cores to achieve additional curing or cross-linking. The hot, cured golf ball cores are then passed through a cooling section where ambient, turbulent air is passed over the golf ball cores to achieve the desired level of cooling. The cooled golf ball cores are delivered to a pneumatic delivery system for additional processing. A cueing hopper is also provided between the insulated unit and the cooling section to serve as a buffer or accumulator in the system.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for making golf ball cores andapparatus for use therein. More preferably, the present inventionrelates to a method and apparatus for cooling golf ball cores integratedinto the part die-out station at the press.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Core compositions for solid golf balls primarily contain cross-linkedpolybutadiene. The polybutadiene is typically mixed with other materialsto obtain a uniform composition. This composition is formed into thespherical cores of the golf balls using either an injection mold or acompression mold.

In the case of compression molding, the uniform composition is fed intoa screw-type extruder that forces the composition through a die. Thecomposition exits the die as a continuous length or extrudate at apredetermined discharge rate. The extrudate is guided past a cuttingdevice, for example a rotating knife having a substantially constantcutting rate, and is cut into discrete pieces called preforms. Eachpreform is advanced to a spherical cavity defined by a pair ofhalf-molds within the compression mold. The compression mold subjectsthe preform to heat and pressure, which causes the preform to expand andfill the spherical cavity. The preform is cured by heat in the mold toform a golf ball core. For injection molding, the core composition isinjected directly into the spherical cavities of the mold.

A typical mold does not contain a single spherical cavity but aplurality of cavities arranged in columns and rows, i.e., a matrix. Inorder to maintain the matrix in continuous sheet form, cavities arefilled with an excess of rubber stock required to completely fill thecavities and the excess rubber spills out of the cavity as “overflow.”The overflow from individual cavities knits together with overflows fromadjacent cavities to form the matrix sheet with molded parts fixedwithin the sheet. After all of the cavities within the mold are filledwith rubber stock and the formed spherical cores are connected to thesheet in a suspended manner through webs or runners. Individual coresare separated from the matrix. Portions of the overflow remain attachedto the separated cores and can cause equipment malfunction in subsequentmanufacturing processes.

Current rubber molding technology includes items such as parts die-outdevices at the molding press to separate individual cores from thematrix. Subsequent processing of the cores into finished golf ballsrequires cooling of the cores and manual handling. However, cooling addssignificant time to the process and manual handling also adds time andassociated costs. Attempts at decreasing the cooling time by immediatelyquenching the cores can reduce the desirable cross-linking in the corethat can adversely affect the physical properties of the core.

Therefore, there remains a need for a system for molding golf ball coresthat reduces the cooling time of the cores after molding but does notadversely affect the physical properties of the core. In addition, thesystem should be sufficiently automated optionally with a device to sortout cores with molding flash attached so as to minimize the need forsignificant manual handling of the golf ball cores.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a cooling system for golf ballcores that is integrated to the part die-out station at the press. Thecooling system includes both an integrated part post-cure system and aninternal cueing hopper for product changeover. Automated forced airconvection parts cooling equipment is incorporated into the part die-outstation at the press. The integrated post-cure system is positionedbefore the cooling equipment to improve curing and cross-linking in thecores prior to quenching. The cured cores are fed into the coolingequipment through an internal parts cueing hopper that can function asan accumulator in the system and that facilitates runtime changeover tonew core formulations. Since the golf ball cores are pre-cooled to roomtemperature at the press, handling and post processing is enhanced andcooling time is dramatically reduced thereby reducing work in progress.The system also includes an automated core delivery system, e.g.,integrated pneumatic golf ball core delivery system, optionally with anautomated sorter to reject cores with excess flash from delivery to thenext processing station, eliminating the need for manual handling of thecores.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the golf ball coreprocessing assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the golf ball processing assembly;

FIG. 3 is a view through line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an automated core delivery system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to systems and methods for making golfball cores. In one embodiment, these cores are substantially solid andform a center of a golf ball. The cores created in accordance with thepresent invention can be encased by a single-layer or multiple-layercover, which is subsequently painted. The golf balls can also includeintermediate layers of molded or wound material as known by those ofordinary skill in the art. Exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, therefore, are not limited to incorporating the cores intoany particular golf ball construction, and cores created in accordancewith the present invention can be used in a variety of golf ballconfigurations.

Exemplary embodiments of systems in accordance with the presentinvention provide for the processing of the golf ball cores followingmolding. In particular, integrated and automated post mold curing,buffering and cooling systems are provided, saving both process time andcost. Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an embodiment of a die-out table assembly10 for golf ball cores in accordance with the present invention isillustrated. The die-out table assembly is arranged to receive a tray ofhot golf ball cores arranged in a matrix directly from a mold, to removethe golf ball cores from the mold, to provide additional curing of thegolf ball cores and to cool the golf ball cores in preparation foradditional processing.

The assembly includes die plate 12 containing a plurality of holes 16.Each hole 16 is sized to allow passage of a single golf ball core. Inother words the inner diameter of hole 16 is substantially the same asthe outer diameter of a golf ball core. Since the golf ball cores arebrought into contact with the die plate in a continuous matrixcorresponding to the mold used to produce the cores, holes 16 arearranged in a pattern corresponding to the post-mold matrix of hot golfball cores. Die plate push assembly 14 is provided on first side 15 ofdie plate 12 and is arranged to push the hot golf ball cores throughholes 16 in die plate 12. Preferably, die plate push assembly 14 is aroller assembly; however, any suitable assembly capable of pushing golfball cores through holes 16 can be used.

Disposed adjacent die plate 12 is post-cure unit 18 that is arranged toreceive golf ball cores passing through die plate 12. As illustrated,post-cure unit 18 is disposed approximate to second side 17 of die plate12 opposite first side 15. Post-cure unit 18 provides a suitableenvironment for additional curing of the golf ball cores. In oneembodiment, post-cure unit 18 includes sealable entrance 40, sealableexit 42 and a sufficient amount of insulation to conserve heat in thegolf ball cores so that cross-linking reactions continue within the golfball cores at nearly the same rate as when the golf ball cores were in aheated mold.

The sealable entrance 40 and sealable exit 42 include movable doors thatpermit golf ball cores to be placed into and removed from post-cure unit18. In one embodiment, sealable entrance 40 is sized such that the golfball cores fall directly through die plate 12 and into post-cure unit18. Sealable exit 42 is generally disposed at one end of post-cure unit18, and the golf ball cores are disposed throughout post-cure unit 18;therefore, conveying mechanism 38 is provided to convey the golf ballcores toward sealable exit 42 in order to remove the golf ball coresfrom post-cure unit 18. In one embodiment, conveyor mechanism 38 is aconveyor belt. Suitable conveyor belts are known and available in theart. Post-cure unit 18 may also add heat to the golf ball cores, ifnecessary, to complete the curing process. Heat can be added viaconduction, convection or radiation. Energy can also be added throughmicrowaves. A temperature sensor, e.g., thermocouple or thermister, canbe used to measure the temperature of unit 18, and if the temperature islower than a predetermined level then heat can be added.

Assembly 10 also include cooling section 24 capable of receiving hotgolf ball cores and arranging them to remove heat from the golf ballcores. Cooling section 24 includes fan assembly 22 positioned to moveair across the golf ball cores. Fan assembly is sized to move asufficient volume of air across the golf ball cores to provide asufficient degree of cooling during the period of time in which the golfball cores are contained within cooling section. Although cool air canbe supplied, preferably air is obtained and used at the ambienttemperature, i.e., room temperature. Fan assembly 22, which includes fan46, could be used to produce ether a laminar or turbulent flow of airacross the golf ball cores. Preferably, fan assembly 22 produces aturbulent air flow. Suitable fans are known and available in the art. Inone embodiment, in order to provide for the desired type of air flow,i.e., laminar or turbulent, and to provide sufficient distribution ofthe air flow through cooling section 24 and across the golf ball cores,fan assembly 22 includes at least one air diffuser 44, such as a honeycomb, disposed between fan 46 and the golf ball cores.

Cooling section 24 includes structures to retain the golf ball cores fora sufficient period of time to achieve the desired level of cooling. Inone embodiment, cooling section 24 includes at least one, and preferablya plurality of conveyors or conveyor belts 26. Conveyors belts 26 arearranged in series. Preferably, conveyor belts 26 are arranged in avertical stack, with adjacent belts moving in opposite directions totransport the cores in a serpentine fashion.

In one embodiment, assembly 10 includes a cueing hopper 20. Cueinghopper 20 acts as a buffer or accumulator in assembly 10 for controllingthe flow of golf ball cores through assembly 10. This facilitatesprocess changes or changes in golf ball core batches in runtime withoutstopping the entire process. Cueing hopper 20 can be located at variouspositions within the assembly.

Cueing hopper 20 is sized to hold a sufficiently large number of golfball cores. In one embodiment, cueing hopper 20 can hold at least asmany golf ball cores as are contained in a single post-mold matrix.Cueing hopper 20 includes open top 36 to receive the golf ball coresfrom post-cure unit 18 and open bottom 34 to deliver the golf ball coresto cooling section 24. Fixed baffle 32 is provided such that in firstposition 28, open bottom 34 is positioned over fixed baffle 32 toprevent the golf ball cores from passing through open bottom 34. In thisposition, cueing hopper 20 is functioning as a buffer or accumulator tohalt the flow of golf ball cores. Golf ball cores, however, are stillmoving through post-cure unit 18 and cooling section 24. In secondposition 30, represented in dashed lines, open bottom 34 is notpositioned over fixed baffle 32 to allow the golf ball cores to passthrough open bottom 34. Cueing hopper 20 is moveable and selectivelypositionable in either first position 28 or second position 30. Asillustrated, in second position 30, open top 36 is not in communicationwith post-cure unit 18. Therefore, delivery of golf ball cores tocooling section 24 is handled in a batch-type process where cueinghopper 20 is filled and moved to second position 30 to be emptied.Alternatively, open top 36 can be in communication with post-cure unit18 when in second position 30, allowing golf balls cores to passdirectly through cueing hopper 20 in a more continuous flow operation.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 4, assembly 10 also includes anautomated core delivery system 50 in communication with the coolingsection 20 to receive cooled golf ball cores and to deliver the cooledcores to subsequent manufacturing processes. Automated core deliverysystem 50 includes cleated belt 52, which has lower portion 54, riserportion 56 and upper portion 58. Cleated belt 52 is designed to bringcooled golf ball cores from a lower elevation, where it receivesdirectly or indirectly the cores from die-out table assembly 10, to anupper elevation to that the cores can be fed by gravity to an automatic,pneumatic sorter that rejects golf ball cores that contain substantialdefects such as molding flash and to pass through golf ball cores foradditional processing that are substantially within the desired oracceptable size.

Cooled golf ball cores are delivered from cooling section 20 at the lastconveyor 26 in the cooling section or a device 26′ connected to conveyer26. The cores are carried upward through riser 56 by cleats 60. At theupper portion 58 of cleated belt 52 the cores are dropped into anadjustable divert tube 62. In one preferred embodiment, divert tube 62comprises two halves 64 and 68 as shown in FIG. 4. Divert tube 62 ismovable, preferably rotatable between a first position aligning withpassing tube 70 and a second position aligning with reject tube 72.Passing tube 70 is connected to a pneumatic device 76 that provides anegative pressure or suction at the end of tube 70 to pull the golfcores. In the first position, the two halves 64, 68 are drawn togetheror otherwise positioned so that a first diameter between them is sizedand dimensioned to allow acceptable golf ball cores to passthrough. Golfball cores that are defectives, e.g., cores with molding flash, wouldbecome stuck in divert tube. Electronic photo eye 78 is pointed atdivert tube 64 to detect such jams and causes divert tube 62 to move tothe second position.

In the second position, the two halves 64, 68 are pulled apart orotherwise positioned so that a second diameter between them is sized anddimensioned to let the defective ball cores drop by gravity into rejecttube 72. The defective cores are discarded or are reground to be usedlater. Preferably, in the second position the diameter of divert tube 62is about 0.015 inch to about 0.25 inch larger than the molded core sizeto ensure that the defective cores can be readily dropped into rejecttube 72. The accepted cores are transported to another manufacturingprocess to have cover layer(s) placed thereon.

Alternatively, electronic photo eye 78 can be replaced by pressuresensors that can detect pressure buildup due to a jam in divert tube 62.Electronic eye 78 or equivalent pressure sensors can be connected to acontroller (not shown) and the controller is connected to divert tube 62to control its diameter and movement. Also, divert tube 62 may have avariable diameter iris instead of the two halves.

Exemplary embodiments in accordance with the present invention are alsodirected to methods for cooling golf ball cores. Initially, a matrix ofhot golf ball cores is removed directly from a mold and is placed on adie plate. The die plate includes a plurality of holes arranged in apattern corresponding to the matrix of golf ball cores with each holesized to allow the passage of a single golf ball core, and the golf ballcores in the matrix are aligned with the holes in the die plate. Thematrix of hot golf ball cores is passed or pushed through the die plateto separate individual golf ball cores from the matrix, for exampleusing a roller assembly. The loose golf ball cores gravity drop into thepost-cure unit located just below the die plate.

The golf ball cores are retained or held in the insulated and sealedpost-cure unit for a pre-determined period of time to further cure thegolf ball cores. In one embodiment, this pre-determined period of timecomprises about eight minutes. Therefore, the fresh hot cores, having atemperature of approximately 370° F., remain in the post-cure sectioninsulated and sealed away from the ambient environment and the highvelocity forced air in the cooling section. The post-cure section hasactuated sealable doors on both the entrance and exit to seal in andconserve the heat that the golf ball cores came into the post cure unitwith. Cross-linking reactions will continue at nearly the same rate aswhen the rubber stock of the golf ball cores was in the hot mold,yielding optimal physical properties of the core with no sacrifice tomachine productivity.

After the cure within the post-cure unit has ended, the exit door opensand an open wire conveyor belt drives the additionally or “fully” curedgolf ball cores to fall off the end of the post-cure conveyor andcascade down into the cooling section. Within the cooling section highvelocity air is passed over the golf ball cores to remove heat from thegolf ball cores. In general, the cooling section contains a highvelocity air fan that blows room temperature air in turbulent flow overthe cores to remove the heat from the core that remained after themolding operation. In one embodiment, there are 4 open wire conveyorbelts moving slowly to achieve a retention time of approximately 37minutes. The conveyor belts move in opposite directions, driving thecores off the end of each conveyor in a vertical stack of conveyors andforming a cascade of cores from one conveyor level to the next.

In one embodiment, the high velocity air is passed through at least onebaffle to produce a desired coverage and flow pattern in the highvelocity air flow. The golf ball cores are conveyed through the highvelocity air flow at a rate sufficient to produce a desired level ofcooling in the golf ball cores, for example, by conveying the golf ballcores along a series of conveyor belts. These conveyor belts arearranged as a vertical stack of conveyor belts. Once the cores reach thebottom conveyor, they are driven to the far end to exit the coolingsection where they drop into an automated core delivery system, such asa pneumatic delivery system, to reject defective cores and transport theaccepted cores to the next operation.

In one embodiment the cooled golf ball cores are forwarded to apneumatic delivery system to send the golf ball cores to subsequentprocessing steps, i.e., to encase the cores with golf ball covers. Inforwarding the golf ball cores, golf ball cores having significantamounts of molding flash are prohibited from being forwarded to thepneumatic delivery system. In one embodiment, in order to prohibit thegolf ball cores from being forwarded, golf ball cores having significantmolding flash are diverted to a gravity drop reject tube, while golfball cores without significant molding flash pass through a tube havingan internal bore sized to not allow a golf ball core with significantmolding flash to pass.

In general, the pneumatic delivery (PD) system automatically sends golfball cores to the next operation to finish the cores, i.e., toincorporated the golf ball cores into finished golf balls. The golf ballcores first see a 2-position divert tube to direct the core in either agravity drop reject tube or into the PD tube, where the golf ball coresare drawn in by negative pressure at the entrance. The 2-position diverttube is made of 2 half segments that remain together while in theposition to feed cores into the PD tube. With the segments heldtogether, the internal bore of the tube assembly is sized to not allow acore with significant molding flash to pass through to jam the PDsystem, like a filtering operation. An electronic photo eye is used todetect any jams in the system, and the divert tube will automatically bedriven to the second position above the reject tube where the segmentswill be driven apart to allow the jammed part to easily fall down theover-sized reject tube.

In one embodiment, the golf ball cores are passed though an internalcueing hopper, for example when passing from the post-cure unit to thecooling section. A quantity of the golf ball cores is delivered to acueing hopper and is held in the cueing hopper for a pre-determinedduration. The predetermined period can be brief, i.e. only as long asneeded to fill the hopper. In one embodiment, the pre-determinedduration is less than about 20 minutes. In general, the cueing hopper isa simple chute that is driven horizontally between two positions. Thefirst position is the cueing position, with the hopper located above afixed baffle. In this position, the cores will build up in the hopper.Once the hopper is driven to a second position with the fixed baffleleft behind, the cores will fall freely onto the upper conveyor of thecooling section. Therefore, the golf ball cores drop through or into theinternal cueing hopper depending on the position of the hopper, i.e.,open or closed off on the bottom.

The intent of the cueing hopper is to segregate groups of cores when theoperator deems it necessary as in a situation of product changeover. Theaction of cueing for duration not to exceed 20 minutes will open up agap in the flow of product through the cooling section to allow for asegregation of the different products downstream.

Formulations used in making the golf ball cores include, for example, atleast polybutadiene, metal salt diacrylate, dimethacrylate, ormonomethacrylate, a free radical initiator, zinc, or calcium oxide andother additives.

The polybutadiene preferably has a cis 1,4 content of above about 90%and more preferably above about 96%. Commercial sources of polybutadieneinclude CB-23 from Bayer, Shell 1220 manufactured by Shell Chemical,Neocis BR40 manufactured by Enichem Elastomers, and Ubepol BR150manufactured by Ube Industries, Ltd. If desired, the polybutadiene canalso be mixed with other elastomers known in the alt, such as naturalrubber, styrene butadiene and/or isoprene in order to further modify theproperties of the core. When a mixture of elastomers is used, theamounts of other constituents in the core composition are based on 100parts by weight of the total elastomer mixture.

Suitable metal salt diacrylates, dimethacrylates, and monomethacrylatesinclude, but are not limited to, those wherein the metal is magnesium,calcium, zinc, aluminum, sodium, lithium or nickel. Zinc diacrylate ispreferred, because it provides golf balls with a high initial velocity.The zinc diacrylate can be of various grades of purity. For the purposesof this specification, a lower quantity of zinc stearate present in thezinc diacrylate produces a zinc diacrylate of higher purity. Zincdiacrylate containing less than about 10% zinc stearate is preferable.More preferable is zinc diacrylate containing about 4-8% zinc stearate.Suitable, commercially available zinc diacrylates include those fromRockland React-Rite and Sartomer. The preferred concentrations of zincdiacrylate that can be used are 20-50 pph based upon 100 pph ofpolybutadiene or, alternatively, polybutadiene with a mixture of otherelastomers that equal 100 pph can be used.

Free radical initiators are used to promote cross-linking of the metalsalt diacrylate, dimethacrylate, or monomethacrylate and thepolybutadiene. Suitable free radical initiators for a preferredembodiment include, but are not limited to, peroxide compounds, such asdicumyl peroxide, 1,1-di(t-butylperoxy)3,3,5-trimethyl cyclohexane, a-abis(t-butylperoxy)diisopropylbenzene, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5di(t-butylperoxy)hexane, or di-t-butyl peroxide and mixtures thereof.Other useful initiators would be readily apparent to one of ordinaryskill in the art. Initiators at 100% activity are preferably added in anamount ranging between about 0.05 and 2.5 pph based upon 100 parts ofbutadiene, or butadiene mixed with one or more other elastomers. Morepreferably, the amount of initiator added ranges between about 0.15 and2 pph and most preferably between about 0.25 and 1.5 pph. The freeradical initiator is added in an amount dependent upon the amounts andrelative ratios of the starting components, as would be well understoodby one of ordinary skill in the art.

In one embodiment, the core composition includes about 5 to 50 pph ofzinc oxide in a zinc diacrylate-peroxide cure system that cross-linkspolybutadiene during the core molding process. Alternatively, the zincoxide can be eliminated in favor of calcium oxide in the golf ball corecomposition. The amount of calcium oxide added to the core-formingcomposition as an activator is typically in the range of about 0.1 to15, preferably about 1 to 10, most preferably about 1.25 to 5, partscalcium oxide per hundred parts (pph) of polybutadiene.

The core compositions utilized in accordance with the present inventionmay also include fillers, added to the elastomeric composition to adjustthe density and/or specific gravity of the core. As used herein, theterm “fillers” includes any compound or composition that can be used tovary the density and other properties of the subject golf ball core.Fillers useful in the golf ball core according to the present inventioninclude, but are not limited to, zinc oxide (in an amount significantlyless than that which would be necessary without the addition of thecalcium oxide), barium sulfate and regrind, which is recycled cured corematerial ground to 30 mesh particle size. The amount and type of fillerutilized are governed by the amount and weight of other ingredients inthe composition. Appropriate fillers generally used range in specificgravity from about 2.0 to 5.6.

Antioxidants may also be included in the elastomer cores. Antioxidantsare compounds that prevent the breakdown of the elastomer. Usefulantioxidants include, but are not limited to, quinoline typeantioxidants, amine type antioxidants and phenolic type antioxidants.

Other ingredients such as accelerators, e.g. tetra methylthiuram,processing aids, processing oils, plasticizers, dyes and pigments, aswell as other additives well known to the skilled artisan may also beused in amounts sufficient to achieve the purpose for which they aretypically used.

The desired ingredients are adequately mixed using methods available andknown in the art. The mixed core material is then molded into golf ballcores using molding techniques including compression molding andinjection molding.

Other than in the operating examples, or unless otherwise expresslyspecified, all of the numerical ranges, amounts, values and percentagessuch as those for amounts of materials and others in the specificationmay be read as if prefaced by the word “about” even though the term“about” may not expressly appear with the value, amount or range.Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parametersset forth in the specification and attached claims are approximationsthat may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to beobtained by the present invention. At the very least, and not as anattempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to thescope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least beconstrued in light of the number of reported significant digits and byapplying ordinary rounding techniques.

Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forththe broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numericalvalues set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely aspossible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certainerrors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in theirrespective testing measurements. Furthermore, when numerical ranges ofvarying scope are set forth herein, it is contemplated that anycombination of these values inclusive of the recited values may be used.

1. An assembly for processing golf ball cores, the assembly comprising:a die plate comprising a plurality of holes, wherein each hole sized toallow passage of a single golf ball core; a post-cure unit disposedadjacent the die plate and arranged to receive cores passing through thedie plate; a moveable cueing hopper in communication with the post-cureunit, wherein the cueing hopper is sized to hold a plurality of golfball cores; and a cooling section in communication with the cueinghopper, wherein the cooling section is adapted to remove heat from thegolf ball cores.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a dieplate roller assembly disposed on a first side of the die plate andarranged to push the golf ball cores through the holes in the die plate;wherein the post-cure unit is disposed adjacent a second side of the dieplate opposite the first side.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein thepost-cure unit comprises: a sealable entrance; a sealable exit; and asufficient amount of insulation to conserve heat in the golf ball coresso that cross-linking reactions continue within the golf ball cores. 4.The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a conveying mechanism totransport the golf ball cores from the post-cure unit to the cueinghopper.
 5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cueing hopper comprises:an open top to receive the golf ball cores from the post-cure unit; anopen bottom to deliver the golf ball cores to the cooling section; afirst position wherein the open bottom is positioned over a fixed baffleto prevent the golf ball cores from passing through the open bottom; anda second position wherein the open bottom is not positioned over thefixed baffle to allow the golf ball cores to pass through the openbottom; wherein the cueing hopper is selectively positionable in eitherthe first or second position.
 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein thecooling section comprises a fan assembly to move air across the golfball cores.
 7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the fan assemblycomprises an air diffuser to distribute the moving air across the golfball cores.
 8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cooling sectioncomprises a plurality of conveyor belts arranged in a vertical stack. 9.The assembly of claim 1, further comprising an automated core deliverysystem in communication with the cooling section to deliver cooled golfball cores for additional processing.
 10. The assembly of claim 9,wherein the automated core delivery system comprises a pneumaticdelivery system.
 11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the pneumaticdelivery system comprises a divert tube comprising a first position todirect golf ball cores to a gravity drop reject tube and a secondposition to pass golf ball cores through the pneumatic delivery system.12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein heat is added to the post-cureunit.
 13. A system for sorting golf ball cores comprising a riser forincreasing elevation of the golf ball cores; a variable size divertmember having a first diameter sized and dimensioned to allow the golfball cores that match a predetermined size to pass through and a seconddiameter to reject the golf ball cores that do not match saidpredetermined size, wherein the second diameter is larger than the firstdiameter, and wherein the golf ball cores are dropped into the variablesize divert member.
 14. The system of claim 13 further comprising apneumatic system to provide a suction to pull the golf ball cores thatmatch the predetermined size through a passing tube.
 15. The system ofclaim 14 further comprising a reject tube to receive the golf ball coresthat do not match the predetermined size.
 16. The system of claim 13,further comprising a jam detector to change the divert member from thefirst diameter to the second diameter.
 17. The system of claim 15,wherein the divert member is movable between the passing tube and thereject tube.
 18. The system of claim 13, wherein the divert membercomprises two halves moveable relative to each other to vary thediameter of the divert member.
 19. The system of claim 13, wherein theriser comprises a cleated belt.
 20. A method for processing golf ballcores, the method comprising: passing the matrix of hot golf ball coresthrough a die plate to separate individual golf ball cores from thematrix; holding the golf ball cores in an insulated and sealed post-cureunit for a pre-determined period of time to further cure the golf ballcores; and passing high velocity air over the golf ball cores to removeheat from the golf ball cores.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein thestep of passing high velocity air further comprises passing the highvelocity air through at least one air diffuser to produce a desiredcoverage area and flow pattern in the high velocity air flow.
 22. Themethod of claim 20, further comprising delivering a quantity of the golfball cores to a cueing hopper; and holding the quantity of the golf ballcores in the cueing hopper for a pre-determined duration.
 23. The methodof claim 20, wherein the step of using a pneumatic delivery system toreject golf ball cores having significant amounts of molding flash frompassing therethrough.